When I was a freshman at Ewha, I didn’t even imagine that I would ever write an article about my life in the States as an exchange student. I feel very privileged to share what I earned through the time I spent at Oklahoma State University (OSU) for two semesters.

 

To be honest, OSU was not one of my preferred schools as I applied for the exchange student program. It was more like I was drawn by a mysterious power to pick OSU, since there were not many options left. At that time, I was depressed because I didn’t even know where Oklahoma was located; however, it turned out to be one of my best decisions I had ever made. That is because I found out that Jeff, a friend from church, was from Oklahoma and he introduced me to one of his friends, Caylee, who went to OSU. That allowed me to get to know many friends in the U.S.

 

Caylee was a member of a sorority (which refers to social organization in college) named Chi Omega. As some people might have seen in a movie Legally Blonde, sorority girls live together at one big house, have parties and formals, and do volunteer works together. Since they are all related with each other as a family, mentor and so on, everybody knows everybody in the house. Thanks to Caylee, I, sometimes, participated in their events. Once, I went to a formal, which is the equivalent of the American prom dance. For the first time in my life, I wore a dress and danced all night long. I was really glad to experience what I saw in Hollywood movies.

 

I took a few English literature and film classes at OSU. I was impressed by the professors who were willing to communicate with students and I could see that they truly were expertise in their fields of research. Among those classes, I especially had a lot of fun in creative writing class. The class was mainly focused on reading poems and short stories and making up our own creative pieces. While creating short stories, I felt like I became a creator of my little imaginary world so I could do everything in it. Actually, I had never thought I could enjoy writing poems and short stories before I took the class.

 

From time to time, I got deeply lonely even though I didn’t go through a serious homesickness. I just could not help missing my family so badly. But whenever I struggled with my homesickness, I had my friends, who deeply cared about me. Most of my friends wanted to become missionaries and they were willing to live up to God’s will. By talking with them, I learned how to serve others and treat them.

 

My goal to achieve from the two semesters at OSU was to improve my English. But after two semesters what I gained was not only the better English skills but friendship, knowledge of American culture, importance of family and so forth.

 

Through the exchange program, I earned the priceless assets of my life and I strongly believe that my life will not be the same as before I studied in the States.

 

 

Yoo Mi-jung (English Literature, 3) studied at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, Oklahoma from 2006 fall to 2007 spring.

When I was a freshman at Ewha, I didn’t even imagine that I would ever write an article about my life in the States as an exchange student. I feel very privileged to share what I earned through the time I spent at Oklahoma State University (OSU) for two semesters.

 

To be honest, OSU was not one of my preferred schools as I applied for the exchange student program. It was more like I was drawn by a mysterious power to pick OSU, since there were not many options left. At that time, I was depressed because I didn’t even know where Oklahoma was located; however, it turned out to be one of my best decisions I had ever made. That is because I found out that Jeff, a friend from church, was from Oklahoma and he introduced me to one of his friends, Caylee, who went to OSU. That allowed me to get to know many friends in the U.S.

 

Caylee was a member of a sorority (which refers to social organization in college) named Chi Omega. As some people might have seen in a movie Legally Blonde, sorority girls live together at one big house, have parties and formals, and do volunteer works together. Since they are all related with each other as a family, mentor and so on, everybody knows everybody in the house. Thanks to Caylee, I, sometimes, participated in their events. Once, I went to a formal, which is the equivalent of the American prom dance. For the first time in my life, I wore a dress and danced all night long. I was really glad to experience what I saw in Hollywood movies.

 

I took a few English literature and film classes at OSU. I was impressed by the professors who were willing to communicate with students and I could see that they truly were expertise in their fields of research. Among those classes, I especially had a lot of fun in creative writing class. The class was mainly focused on reading poems and short stories and making up our own creative pieces. While creating short stories, I felt like I became a creator of my little imaginary world so I could do everything in it. Actually, I had never thought I could enjoy writing poems and short stories before I took the class.

 

From time to time, I got deeply lonely even though I didn’t go through a serious homesickness. I just could not help missing my family so badly. But whenever I struggled with my homesickness, I had my friends, who deeply cared about me. Most of my friends wanted to become missionaries and they were willing to live up to God’s will. By talking with them, I learned how to serve others and treat them.

 

My goal to achieve from the two semesters at OSU was to improve my English. But after two semesters what I gained was not only the better English skills but friendship, knowledge of American culture, importance of family and so forth.

 

Through the exchange program, I earned the priceless assets of my life and I strongly believe that my life will not be the same as before I studied in the States.

 

 

Yoo Mi-jung (English Literature, 3) studied at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, Oklahoma from 2006 fall to 2007 spring.

 

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